[SpaceNeedle]

I have been interested in several of Sarah's pieces posted here on this forum and I came across her eBay store (http://myworld.ebay.com/kojimapearl/) a few weeks ago. I would be interested to see her Kasumi pearls if she decides to list them.

[pattye]

Hi Spaceneedle,

Thanks for mentioning Sarah! I didn't realize she is now on ebay! You could always email her about the Kasumi pearls. I bought lovely pearls from her in Tucson, and also more recently by emailing her my request. She then sent photos. It worked out very well! Another trustworthy person on ebay, Hurrah!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Caitlin]

I love it! That's two eBayers with high quality and unusual pearls that we can trust 100%! I hope Sarah develops a market over there.

I think those Kasumis were quite expensive at around 30k if I remember correctly. Those are actually real Kasumis. I think Fuji and Sarah are one of the few authentic sources of those very rare pearls.

I also read in our own pages that they are no longer being produced:

The Kasumiga pearl industry had a very short life span, however, with production ceasing in 2006. The industry is once again a pollution fatality of Japanese industry. The remaining Kasumiga pearls are exclusively sold by the Belpearl pearl company.

Even though one person has disputed this quote- I am sure the facts are correct, if not widely known.

[pattye]

Hi Caitlin and all Kasumi lovers,

Not sure where that quote came from but in Feb'08 Sarah of KojimaPearl noted the following in her post that included photos of Kasumi pearls she had on display at Tucson...........

"As we buy all of the baroque pearls from the three remaining farmers Lake Kasumi (I will shorten the name here for the sake of market memory), we can be sure of their origin. "

So you are certainly correct that the production is declining, but perhaps not entirely extinct as yet.

Sarah may have some smaller lots of Kasumi available for sale, yes, the necklace we saw was an amazing rare color and size! If one is interested, do email her.

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Caitlin]

As I trust the source of that quote, (it is at the bottom of the article on freshwater pearls) so I am just waiting for the true situation to become more public.

The Kasumi pearls take a full four years to cultivate. Production stopped in 2006. That may mean that whatever pearl mollusks that stay alive would take until 2010 to be ready, so we have two more years of probably meager harvests- then nothing......

This is pure speculation but I think people might be sworn to secrecy for some reason.

I also think that prices would soar even higher than they already are when the truth comes out that lake Kasumi is too polluted to produce any more pearls, that the vast majority of the pearls are already harvested and being parsed to keep the industry alive as long as possible.

[pattye]

Hi Caitlin,

It will be of great interest to have further information about this, for sure! Hopefully Sarah will check in here and give us further info. Just when a lot of pearls is harvested is not usually the question we ask!!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Perle]

Thanks for posting this, SpaceNeedle, some really fun designs on that site . . . .

Perle

[la_corsetiere]

Originally Posted by SpaceNeedle

I have been interested in several of Sarah's pieces posted here on this forum and I came across her eBay store (http://myworld.ebay.com/kojimapearl/) a few weeks ago. I would be interested to see her Kasumi pearls if she decides to list them.

Thaks so much for the site - I've added it to my ebay favorites - beautiful work, Sarah! Funny thing, too, given the relative anonymity of this site for us "lurkers" and occasional posters - I think Sarah and I may actually be neighbors...(Sarah, I sent you a PM).

Small world...

Sheri

[Bodecia]

Looks like I will have to gather all my Kasumi pieces together and take a photo of them. I have finished pieces and loose Kasumis and a strand of Kasumi. Love them all. I made a necklace with one as a Centre piece intending to sell it but I just couldn't when the time came. I fell in love with it. I guess if I hadn't though I shouldn't consider listing my designs. I will take a photo of that necklace too.

Bodecia

[pattye]

Oh Yes, Please Bodecia!

Just because you show a photo doesn't mean they are for sale! At least with mine, they aren't for sale, at least none of them are as yet! I love to see photos of Kasumi, always! I have a fair number, but not all are made up into wearable pieces, some strands need to be lengthened, etc. But the colors are so lovely-----

pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Bodecia]

Hi Pattye,

No of course, not for sale, heavens. I couldn't even sell the necklace with one Kasumi on it let alone all my others. Most of mine aren't made up yet either and I have been collecting them for quite a while. Mainly from Care.

When I said listing my designs I meant items for eBay but just haven't been able to bring myself to list a Kasumi. Just too precious by far. One day maybe I read that paragraph again and it didn't make a lot of sense actually, guess I should go to bed. Think buying that natural pearl got me too hyped up. So I just kept listing, cropping photos etc.

But I will take some decent photos of my darling Kasumis and post them within a couple of days. Today is sort of shot now so it might not be until tomorrow. I am losing track of days. That is what pearls does to one and lack of sleep.

Night, nite. Bodecia